I want to do a US WWI figure(s). I wouldn't mind doing a 120mm figure but the only one I have seen is a Verlinden figure in a pretty boring, stiff pose. Doing a two or three 1/35 vignette would be an alternative, but who makes good quality figures? ICM? I have not been impressed with their older sets, but their WWI sets are newer. Are they good? Crisp? Or is the detail soft?

Not sure what you are after by asking if ICM is "good". I think for plastic 1/35 figures, ICM probably has some of the best US WWI figures around-- probably the only US WWI figure "sets" in plastic. I'd look at the ICM website for ideas. They make five sets of US Figures:

1) The US Infantry (1917)set--these are four figures in a "marching" pose with "smokey the bear" campaign hats, but they also include their excellent WWI weapons set in the box, so you can change the figures to the steel helmet as well, along with a selection of weapons and equipment. There is an officer with a period camera in this set.2) The US Infantry (1918)--this set is four figures in dynamic "attack" poses, again it include the WWI US weapons sprues so you can pick and choose weapons3) The US Infantry in gas masks is the same as in #2 above, but with the inclusion of heads wearing gas masks (chest or hip mounted British style box respirator masks, which is what the US primarily wore in WWI.4) The US medical set- which is included with their Model-T ambulance, it has one medic, a nurse in period dress, and two "wounded" troops awaiting evacuation.5) US Drivers set-- two figures in US uniforms seated, ostensibly for us in their Type B "Liberty Truck". one is an officer with spurs and "Sam Browne" belt, the other is an enlisted driver--they are both in campaign caps, no other accessories are included.

I think these figures are very good, excellent really for the limits of injection molded plastic. If you want something else, I recommend going to Model Cellar, or checking into some of the other resin or white metal manufacturers, but the pickins'for US figures are rather slim. I have a 120mm (1/16 scale series 77 "Doughboy" which is very nice, but Series 77 is long out of production now. Google "Doughboy" or WWI US Army figures and see what comes up. VR, Russ

IMHO, ICM's latest generation of figures (and vehicle kits), of WWl subjects, whether US, British, German, Austro-Hungarian, etc., are, perhaps, the finest in injected styrene molding. Accurate details, crisp molding, and heads you DON'T need to switch for resin! Just add material for rifle slings and helmet straps. With just a bit of judicious under-cutting of equipment straps and belts, they will be indistinguishable from comparable resin figures - and at less than half the price!